Image Capture Device

1. An image capture device for interactive use with a handheld device including an expansion slot, the image capture device comprising; an optical portion, including, a image capture portion including a digital image sensor, and a fixed portion said image capture portion being attached to said fixed portion, an indicator, a portion of which is fixed between said image capture portion and at least a portion of said fixed portion, said external light indicator including a generally disc shaped light pipe aligned with a light source, and a processor interface card sized to fit the expansion slot including a base at a first end and a connector at a second end, opposite said first end, said fixed portion being fixed to said base, said processor interface card additionally including a processor for processing an image received from said digital image sensor, said processor additionally controlling the state of said light source.

2. The image capture device of claim 1 , wherein said generally disc shaped light pipe additionally includes a linear light pipe affixed to at least one side of said generally disc shaped light pipe.

3. The image capture device of claim 1 , wherein said light source includes an LED.

4. The image capture device of claim 3 , wherein said LED is a colored LED.

5. The image capture device of claim 3 , wherein said generally disc shaped light pipe includes an irregularly shaped inner circumference which provides an increased number of reflective surfaces inside said light pipe.

6. A method of capturing and displaying an image using a handheld appliance including a display and an expansion slot, comprising the steps of: providing an image capture device, including an indicator comprising a generally disc shaped light pipe and a light source, inserting said image capture device processor interface card into the expansion slot; framing an image to be captured; actuating said physical trigger button to capture the image; storing said captured image; and displaying the captured image on the display of the handheld appliance.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least said image capture portion is rotatable, and further including the step of rotating said lens to point said lens in a desired direction.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said image capture device additionally includes an indicator comprising a generally disc shaped light pipe and a light source.

9. The method of claim 8 , including the step of lighting said indicator to indicate said image capture device is ready prior to actuation of said physical trigger button.